Born in apocalypse

Chapter 38: Fire manipulation

The moment he looked at [Elemental Bolt], a sudden realization struck him. Upon reading the skill description, a memory resurfaces.

According to the skill description, he could use any type of element as the base for the [Elemental Bolt]. But when he used it during the fight with the goblins, he could only use metal bolts when, in fact, he wanted a fire bolt instead. No matter how much he tried to change it, it always had the same result.

The pieces of the puzzle suddenly clicked into place. Dhruv realized that in order to wield a different type of elemental bolt, he had to infuse a different kind of mana into its construct. He comprehended that if he wanted to cast a fire bolt, he would need to use fire mana, which he didn't know how to do. This made sense, as he currently only possessed knowledge of how to manipulate metal and illusion mana. This explained why he had been unable to generate bolts from other elements.

He also had a hypothesis about how he would be able to use different types of mana. He had speculated that he would need to learn how to transmute natural mana into elemental mana. And he considered the possibility of achieving this with the help of a skill—which he didn't have access to—or through diligent practice and experimentation. At that time, the latter approach seemed like a feasible route for him to pursue.

As he continued to reflect, Dhruv came to an epiphany, that he had been thinking wrong this whole time. He knew that he could use any type of magic, as it had been mentioned during the selection of his first class. This fact was further corroborated by the elemental bolt description. What he didn't know was the possibility of getting another manipulation skill itself.

And getting the manipulation skill changes everything, as, with these skills at his disposal, he understands that he could seamlessly change the type of mana used.

And the funny part is he didn't even need to do that; Instead, the manipulation skill itself would enable the transformation. Additionally, he would also get the blueprint for the respective element spell, and These blueprints would automate the process of conversing normal mana into elemental mana,

As Dhruv continued to contemplate the situation, one question remained unanswered: What had caused these elemental manipulation skills to reveal themselves now? And he had considered three possibilities.

The first and also the most obvious would be his evolution to Tier 2, but he dismissed this notion since he had checked the skill list right after upgrading his class.

'This left me with two other options: either the increase in magic power stat or the evolution of the metal manipulation skill that had triggered it' He engaged in deep thought, mulling over these possibilities.

Dhruv found himself leaning more toward his third hypothesis. The connection between the evolution of his metal manipulation skills and the sudden availability of fire manipulation seemed to support this idea. Both instances involved the manipulation of elements, suggesting a possible cause-and-effect relationship between them.

After contemplating the fire manipulation skill for a moment, Dhruv found no reason to refrain from purchasing it. His decision to acquire the skill wasn't merely based on its coolness—although it was—and usefulness in casting fire spells; he recognized its practicality in combat situations.

The memory of Vexar's effective use of fire against the Crystallce still lingered in his mind. Fire manipulation played a significant role in that scenario, making it clear how advantageous this skill could be against such an icy opponent. With this in mind, Dhruv opted to purchase the fire manipulation skill.

He also wanted to buy the other elemental skill but controlled himself as he didn't have or, more likely, didn't want to waste—it wasn't exactly wasting—the skill points, saving them for potential skills with greater utility and impact. After all, he didn't have that many skill points to begin with.

One such skill that caught his attention was [Normal Magic Sensitivity.]

[Normal Magic Sensitivity: With the help of this skill you can detect, feel, and interact with the mana sources near you.]

Dhruv's thoughts were well-founded, and the potential applications of the [Normal Magic Sensitivity] skill were indeed extensive. With this skill, he could gain a significant advantage in battles by detecting approaching monsters or hidden enemies. Additionally, the skill's capability to feel mana could also help him enhance his mana handling and manipulation, opening up opportunities for him to fine-tune his spellcasting and magic-related abilities.

Moreover, the prospect of disrupting an enemy spellcaster's mana by interacting with the natural mana around them was an ingenious strategy. For example, this skill would have been very helpful when fighting the Warden, as it could have disrupted his necromancy spell before he could even cast it.

With these considerations in mind, Dhruv decided to invest one of his skill points in acquiring the [Normal Magic Sensitivity] skill. And just like that, another two skill points were gone.

[You have learned the ability: Fire manipulation.]

[You have learned the skill: Normal Mana sensitivity.]

The information about fire magic and spells began to seep into his brain, overwhelming him with a pleasurable feeling.

'Ahhh! Keep it going, cosmos,' he thought as the feeling of new information brought a very delighted sensation. It felt like a tingling sensation, which relaxed the body.

But his wish didn't get fulfilled, and after a while, the pleasurable sensation went away, leaving a sour taste in his mouth. The bad mood went away as quickly as it had come because in front of him were tons of new spells for him to play with.

Looking at the remaining coins, he decided to invest them in his stats as well. This round, he opted to distribute them evenly between his agility and stamina, given their comparative neglect. It was apparent they needed attention, especially when he was going to fight against three hordes of monsters, which required significant agility and stamina. Considering the prolonged battle, a surplus of stamina would undoubtedly prove beneficial.

While there hadn't been any instances of him becoming parched during combat, the first time could also be the last.

'Alright, with 32500 CC still at hand, I can boost both stats by 6 levels each," he mused, contemplating his options. 'But the maximum upgrade per round I can do is limited to five levels. So, I'll need to split this into four separate rounds.'

'Time to go for six this round; it might help build up a tolerance for more pain,' Dhruv pondered, considering the change in strategy and going for six levels in one go.

As soon as he began the stat upgrade, a faint twinge of pain began to assail him. It was a sensation he had grown accustomed to, accompanying him every time he upgraded his stats. However, this instance seemed to deviate from the norm; the pain didn't halt at its usual intensity but instead surged, gradually encompassing his entire body. The discomfort was now at a point where it genuinely stung, coursing through every fiber. Just as he had anticipated, this ache was bound to persist, tormenting him for a considerable period of time.

But fortunately, this time around, the expected agony didn't transpire. And surprisingly, the pain swiftly dissipated as soon as it began to genuinely hurt.

'Huhh! That's it.'

He had become so accustomed to the pain that, for a brief moment, it felt weird that the pain wasn't severe on this occasion.

Completing his personal upgrades, he shifted his attention to the trio. They were nearly done assimilating their cores and were leisurely enjoying their snacks.

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